Day +83

Today's daily photo is brought to you by our sweet friends and neighbors Brent and Karen. Thank you for the cute photo and we miss you both tons!

T

Today makes 112 days away from home. I woke up still feeling like crap from my head cold. I had Austin and Sadie get their clothes out last night so that hopefully they did not wake Ariauna and Jaxon up this morning. They quietly got ready for school and left. Jaxon and Ariauna were still asleep so I went and crawled back in bed and we all stayed asleep until 10:30, it was so nice. (Have I told you about the awesome curtains they have here at the RMH that make your room look pitch black? They are awesome!) Once we did get up, I drugged myself with more cold medicines and as many healthy home remedies you can imagine. I got on the phone first thing to talk to our nurse coordinator Pat to see what suggestions she had as far as me and the kids having head colds. Her biggest concern was that we have all had our flu shots and I told her yes, we have all had them. Sadie had been running a fever the one night but it was a low grade fever. I asked her for information to get us into a clinic to be seen, but she said if it was just viral they won't do anything for it anyways. So she said to just be doing tons and tons and tons of hand washing, no sharing things at all, and watch for fevers that are more like 101 degrees. I told her I was pretty sure mine was a sinus infection and she said those usually are not passed on from person to person. So we will continue to do what we are doing, which is trying to avoid contact with Ariauna, and sanitizing things more crazy then we already were. We did a lot of hanging out in our room again today. Ariauna worked on her homework  to get it finished up before her tutor came. Here is a picture of Ariauna and her best medicine ever....

He truly makes us laugh. This morning when Ariauna put on her hat to keep her head warm, he wanted one of her hats to keep his head warm too.. I love kids at this age, when they don't know or care what they look like, and if they look ridiculous in a girl's hat with a big flower on it or not.... He was so proud sitting there with Ariauna's hat on. While her tutor was here today, Jaxon and I just hung out in the back bedroom. I don't really want to hang out downstairs and contaminate anyone else with the crud that I have. Ariauna had her school time and then we all laid down for a nap. (That is why the lack in blogging this week.) We got up when the kids came home from school, of course they immediately wanted to head out to play. Jaxon and I hung out in the room until time for dinner. We went down to dinner and ate and then Austin, Ariauna and Sadie stayed here at the RMH, while Jaxon and I went on the RMH shuttle Target run. We needed some more bottled water for Ariauna and I needed more cold medicines for everyone. I really did not feel like going, but that is the joy of being a single parent right now. The RMH shuttle was packed full for the Target run. As we headed outside it was FREEZING! We got to Target at 6:50 and we had until 8:00 to shop. Then we headed back to the RMH. Austin met us with a cart to take stuff up to the room. The girls had done a fun Monday night activity while we were gone. I begged Austin to take a few pictures for me, and he even remembered to do it.

 

 

 

The kids had fun and got in a bit of trouble while I was gone. Yep, while I was at Target, they were playing with the neighbor kids and their brother's wheelchair. The kids love to do it, but they were doing it in the hallway just outside our room. The minute I got back, the kids told me what happened and that the neighbor down the hall was going to come talk to me. GREAT! So I had the discussion with the kids again, about people here at the RMH are sick and we have to be quiet in case they are sleeping even though it is not bedtime or quiet time yet. Anyway, sure enough the lady came down and talked to me. She was really nice about it and I told her I had already discussed it with the kids and there would be no more playing in the hall by my kids. Awesome way to keep the neighbors on our floor liking us (NOT). Of course this person does not have little kids, but I am going to make an effort to have my kids be silent as a mouse every time they are in the hall. We shall see how that goes, as I have a two year old so I am sure he is not going to be silent in the hall every time we go out of the room. Austin also took a picture of this little guy tonight! Meet Isaiah, he is 6 years old and he also has Fanconi Anemia. He is about the 4th Fanconi Anemia patient we have met while we have been here. Pretty amazing, as we will probably never meet some one at home that has the same disease.  Isaiah absolutely loves Austin and is always looking for Austin to hang out with him.  

 

We got all the kids inside and medicines all done, everyone ready for bed and we crashed.  I am not sure what medicine is helping me and which one's are not, but I am taking plenty. I am taking over the counter cold pills, Do Terra products, a shot of lemon, honey and coconut oil twice a day, and a spoonful of raw honey and cinnamon twice a day. Hopefully, something will start helping soon!

Today I am thankful for people who are patient and kind at the RMH and understand a little bit that kids, will be kids. I am grateful to those here that understand, that we are all going through a tough time and that realize I am alone here with four kids and doing the best that I can do....I also appreciate those that know that kids, including mine are not perfect, and that they learn from their mistakes. I feel bad because it is not like they were doing it at midnight, yet I understand that maybe some one was trying to sleep.  Hopefully, the kids will try to be a little more respectful to others. Sending our love from Minnesota.